Walsall’s Dean Smith is so worried about the state of the Ricoh Arena pitch that he might not risk key men Tom Bradshaw and Sam Mantom and in tomorrow’s derby clash.

Top scorer Bradshaw (hamstring) and influential midfielder Mantom (knee) are both back in full training and, according to the Saddlers boss, are rated 50/50 to start.

But he revealed: “Nothing can be left to chance and, knowing the pitch at the Ricoh, that has to come into consideration as well.

“It wasn’t great the last couple of games I saw and they will have the rugby on there soon, so it will take a bit of a beating.”

Steven Pressley, who has voiced his concerns about the deterioration of the pitch during the Sky Blues’ self-imposed Sixfields exile, has welcomed confirmation that new stadium owners Wasps intend to rip it up and install a grass/synthetic surface at the end of the season.

Look: The state of the Banks's Stadium pitch during Coventry City's 4-0 defeat in 2013

“That’s great news,” he said, “It’s been difficult for them coming in and inheriting the pitch in the condition it’s in and there’s very little they can do between now and the summer apart from a little bit of surgery,”

Reiterating that his team will need to adapt their style to the pitch, Pressley added: “I hear people say it’s the same for both sides but that’s not entirely true.

The state of the Ricoh Arena pitch ahead of the Gillingham game in August following the Insomnia event.

“If you play a certain way, which is passing between the departments, then the pitch doesn’t suit you; if you play a long-ball game it doesn’t affect you in the same manner, so I don’t buy that.

“That’s not making excuses ahead of this game because Walsall are also a side that pass the ball.

“They press very quickly and force you into mistakes; they’ve got good organisation so they don’t get exposed on the counter too often.

“They don’t lose many goals – the least in the league this year – and they’ve won three and drawn one of their last four games so they’re probably the in-form team in League One at the moment.

“It’s a tough test and it’s not just a game it’s a derby and it’s important for the fans that we win those.“But we’ve prepared properly so there’s no excuse for not giving a performance - we have to show a strong mentality regardless of the conditions.”